Cover for cooking ranges



May 30, 1944 J. sMALLEN 2,350,014

COVER FOR COOKING RANGES Filed Dec. 21, 1940 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 M @t4-fl -gavfdf "m29 @www l May 30, 1944- L. J. SMALLEN 2,350,074 l COVER FOR COOKING RANGES Filed Dec. 21, 1940` 2 sheets-sheet 2 vers for console type cooking ranges.

Patented May 30, 1944 UNITE D STATES PAT ENT OF F ICE 2,350,074 p l covEa Foa COOKING. RANcrEs` Louis J. Smallen, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 21, 1940, SerialNo. 371,091

8- Claims.

This invention relates to cooking ranges land relates more particularly to top structures or c'ov- A general object of this invention is to provide a simple, attractive and inexpensive cooking range cover of the split folding type.

Another object of this invention is to provide an rimproved cover for the cooking top of a range which is easily and quickly operated between the closed position where it fully covers the rangetop and an open folded position where it lies against or adjacent the face of the guard rail without interfering with the condiment containers, lamps,r clocks, or other devices on the guard rail. p l

Another object of the invention is to provide a range cover of the character referred` to ernbodying attractiveiinishing molds at the under side of its hingedlyl connected sections which close or occupy the corner and edge spaces, strengthen the cover sections. and give the cover the appearance of greater thickness.

Another object of this invention is to provide a range cover of the character mentioned in which the cornice or mold parts are secured in place without using additional screws, bolts, rivets or welding. The linishing elements `or mold parts .embodied in the cover ofthe invention are eifectively Vand dependably secured in, place by means ofv intertting portions and the essential hinge screwsand bumper screws-, thereby making it unnecessary to use attaching `means which might injure the nish and detract from the appearance of the cover structure.

A further object of .this invention is to provide a range cover of. theV character referred to. in which the mold or finishing partsare easily and quickly appliedand are. inexpensive, adding but little to the total cost of the cover structure.

The various objectsand; features of my. invention willA be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical form of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings; inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary'side viewof a cooking range embodying the improved cover ofthe invention with broken lines illustrating the open position of the cover. Fig. 2is an enlarged" fragmentary front View showing the 'two cover sections raised before folding down the up'persection. Fig. 3is an enlarged fragmentary-vertical detailedsectiona'l View through one of the hinges which 'connect the sections showing thesections inthe same condition asin Fig.12: Fig. viis-an enlargedfragmentary front view ofthe partsin 4 the position shown in Fig; 2 and'wlth certain parts broken away to appear `in verticalcross section. Fig. 5l is an enlarged detailed sectional lview through one of the corner blocks and adjacent parts, and Fig. `6` isa similar rfsectional view 'through a cornerblock` and` ahinge` for'attachplication of the invention illustrated in the drawings, it. being understoodthat the invention is not to be construed as limitedcrrestricted to the specic form `or application herein described.

The portion of the cooking" range illustrated in the drawingsl includes the langey body ,lil` having a cooking top I I provided with the'usual burners,

etc. not shown. The various burners of the range are controlled by handlesvor control parts I2 at the` front of the range body Ill; An upwardly extending guard rail I3' is providedalong the rear .edge/of the range top II4 and carries the usual clock i4, condiment ,containersA l5, etc. The range body I0 orits guardrail [3- has a vertical face I B `at the rear edge of the cooking top II, -set or` stepped outwardly a short` distance from thefront face of the Vrail I3. In accordance with theusual practice the cooking top Il is flat and horizontal. along its marginalportions to receive the cover.`

The cover ofthe presentinventionmay be said tocomprise, generally, an inner cover section Il hinged tothe range body I an outer cover section I8` hinged tothe inner section. I1 and marginal mold means I9ion the under sides, of the sections I1 and I8. y

The cover sections I'I and-I8 are `elongate rectangular members a-nd asfillustratedmay be alike or identical. Thesections III and I8 are formed of sheet metal and their surfaces are suitably iinished.l In most casesl theupper and lower surfaces ofthe cover sections I-'IA and I8 are covered with vitreous enamel. The Vsections I1 and I8 may be plain sheet-like `elements provided at their several edges or margins with down turned rims 211.` `The rims 20 arepreerablycontinuous and uniform and are disposed at rightangles to the upper and lower surfacesn of the sections I'l and I8. Lateral or inturned flanges 2-I extend along the lower edges of'the rims 20. The flanges 2| 'are flat and substantially horizontal to be gen'- erally parallel with the bodies of the sectionsll and I8 and are adapted to oppose and lie substantially flush with the surface of the cooking top yII when the cover is closed. The rims and the flanges 2| may be finished in the same manner as the other parts of the sections I1 and I8. The corners where the rims 20 join the bodies of the sections I1 and I8 and the corners where the flanges 2I join the rims 29 are suitably rounded.

The rear edge ofthe inner section I1 is. pivotally or hingedly connected witli-the range body I so that the'sec'tion may be swung between the horizontal closed position and the substantially vertical open position. Suitable hinges 22 secure' the inner section I1 to the range body .I D. ...In .the

construction illustrated there aretwo hinges `22,

one hinge being arranged adjacent each'en'diof and has a similar cheek 25 secured tothev inner- L` or rear rim 28 of thesection I1. Screws 26, passed through openings in saidrirn 20 and threaded into elements ofthe means I9, serve "to secure .thefhlnge c'zlieksl to the rim 2lI." 'IheI hinge .cheeks 23 and 25 are notched to 'receive't'orsional springs 21. The springs 21 vsurrundth'e hinge pins 28 and have their opposite endl pbrtionsreacting against the'cheeks'23 and 25. The springs '21 exert 'an' upward force or lifting force onfthe cover section I1 and tend to'swing the cover toits openor raised position. However,the springs'21 are of insufficient strength to raise the Vcover sections `I1 from their closed positions and'merely assist in raising'the cover section when the cover is "manually opened. The 'springs 21 serve'to yieldingly or releasably hold the cover section I1 in its'raised vertical position. Thehinges 22 just described'may serve to limit or stop the opening movement of thesection I1`.

The outer or front cover section' I8 is hinged to the forward'edge of the inner section I1 so that it' may be' raised with the section I1- and then swung downwardly and rearwardly to lie against and conceal the under side of the raised section I1. Spaced-hinges29 servel to hingedly or swingably connect the rear edge of the section I8 with the forward edge of the section I1. In the construction illustrated there are three spaced hinges 29 spaced and related so that the outer hinges 28 occur adjacent the -outer ends of the cover-sections I1 andv I8; The cheeks of the hinges 29 may lie `flat against the under surfaces of the `flanges 2I which extend along the forward edge.; of the section I1 and rear edge of the section I8. Screws 30 passed through openings in these flanges 2i are threaded into openings in plates 3| at the 11p.- per sides of the flanges to secure the hinges 29 to the sections I1 and IB. It will be apparent how the hinges 29 secured to the under sides of the sections I1 andv I8 allow the section I8 to be swung between its horizontal closed position and its vertical open position when the cover isopened .and closed. Suitable bumpers 32 are secured to the under side of the flange 2Iwhich extends along the forward edge of the section I8. The bumpers 32 are preferably positioned adjacent the opposite ends ofthe section I8 vand are -secured in place-byscrews33. The bumpers 32 are Vadapted to engage against or cooperate with the range top I I to limit the downward swinging of the cover and to support the forward 'portion of the closed cover.y The mold means I9 conceals, closes and occu pies the corners in the under sides of the cover sections I1 and IB which occur byV reason of the the inner cover section I1 includes a rear mold member 34, side mold members 35 and a front mold member 36. The mold members, 34, 35 and 36 are preferably formed of the same stock to be identical in transverse cross section and each has a main pitched or sloping portion 31, a base 38, an up-turned flange 39 extending along the base 38 and an inturned flange 40 on the upper edge of the main portion 31, see Figs. 3 and 5. The mold members 34, 35 and 36 may be formed of sheet metal and may be suitably finished. -In practice the mold members 34,A 35'and 36 may be plated, for example, their outer surfaces may be chromium plated. The finishing members or mold mem- `bers. 34... 35 and 36 are arranged to have their bases 38 bear against the upper sides of the fianges 2 I,- to have their flanges 33 engage against the inner sides of the rims 20 and to have their flanges 46 engage against the under surface of the cover section I1, assuming the cover to be closed. With this arrangement of the mold members 34, 35 and 36 their main portions 31 extend diagonally or are pitched upwardly and inwardly from adjacent the flanges 2| to the under side of the cover section I1. The members 34 and 36 are arranged along the rear and front margins of the section I1 while the members 35 are arranged at the opposite ends of the section. The rear mold member 34 is proportioned and arranged to have its opposite ends spaced from and adjacent the opposite ends of the elongate section I1. The mold means I9 at the section I1 further includes corner blocks 4I arranged in the -rear corners of the section I1. The blocks 4I may be solid members, as illustrated, or may be hollow members of pressed sheet metal or the like. The blocks 4I are shaped to t in the corners of the section. I1 and have pitched or sloping under surfaces which conform to and lie flush with the surfaces of the main portions 31 of the mold members. Tongues 42 and 43 of slightly reduced thickness are provided on the blocks 4I to extend parallel with the rims 20. Shoulders 44 occur :where the lreduced tongues 42 and 43 join the bodies of the blocks 4I. The tongues 42, which -are somewhat longer than the tongues 43, are received in the opposite ends of the rear mold mem*- bers 34 and are notched or recessed to receive the flanges 39 and 40 of the member 34 as shown at .45 in Fig. 5. The engagement of the flanges 39 andV with the block tongues 42 serves to hold the member 34 against downward and forward movement with respect to the blocks and the blocks are secured to the section I1 so that they anchor or attach the member 34 to the section.

. The screws 26 which attach the hinge cheeks 25 to the section I1 are utilized to secure the blocks 4I to the section. The screws 26 are threaded into openings 46 in the blocks 4I and their tongues 42 and the blocks and tongues .may be formed and proportioned to receive all of the screws 26. When the assembly of the member 34 and blocks 4I has `been arranged in placeon the section I1 the screws 26 are passed lthrough the openings inthe hinge cheeks 25 and rim 20 and are threaded into the openings y46 vtoiix said assembly to the section I1. 'I'he .blocks 4I provide ample stock for carrying the screws 26, and the screws 26 vfor attaching the hinges 22 to the section I1 are utilized to secure the mold member 34 and the cornerlblocks 4I to the section. When the member 34 and blocks 4I are in place the opposite ends of the member cooperate with the shoulders 44 to hold the member against endwise movement. In this connection it Will 'be observed that the exposed surfaces of the member 34I and the `bloclrs 4I are flush and the exposed surfaces ofthe blocks may be plated or finished in the same manner as the exposed surfaces of the member 34'. i

The side or end mold members 35 are engaged over the tongues 43 of the corner blocks -4I and extend forwardly from the blocks `4| to the forward rim I2D of the section |1. The rearends of the members 35 may be straight to bear against the shoulders 44 of the blocks 4| and the tongues 34 are notched or received in the same manner as the tongues 42 to receive the flanges 33 andv 40 of the members 35. The engagementof these flanges 39 and 40 With the block tongues `34 secure1y anchors or retainsthe f their bases 38 engage over the flanges `2| and i to have their flanges 39 bear against the end` rims 2D of the section I1. It will be observed Jthat no attaching members, such `as screws or the like, are required to secure the end members 35 at the rear parts of the mold assembly.

` After the end mold members 35 have been assembled in place, as described above, the forward mold member 36 is arranged-in place to'bear be-` tween the forward ends ofthe members 35 to retain the forward parts ofthe end members 35 invplace. Thus `the forward end member 36 acts as a spacer or keystone element `whichretains or assists in retainingthe end Vmembers 3'5. The forward mold member 36 is mitered or bevelled at its ends so that its main portion 31 meets the main portions 31 of the endmembers 35 along` pitched diagonal `lines 4 1. The forward member 36 may have the ends ofeits flange 40 cut off straight so that it does notinterfere with the members 35 and the ends of itsv base 38 and flanges 39 may be cut off straight 4to properly cooperate with the members 35. The ends of the member 36 are tted tothe end `members 35; to eliminate gaps or cracks andto eifectively hold the end members in place.l

In accordance with the invention the attaching means for the hinges 29 serve to secure the forward mold member 36 in place. Thebase 38 of the forward mold member 36 vhasyopenlngs 48 for passing the screws 30 and the above mentioned plates 3| are arranged att-he upper orinner side'of the base 38. The vplates 3l may be welded or otherwise xed to the flange 39 -or to the base 38 or both. When theforward mold member 38 has been arranged in place between the side mold members 35 the 'screws 30 are passed through the openings ln the hinges 28, the anges 2| and the basesk 3,8 and are threaded into the plates 3|. This effectively secures the member 3E and completes the attachment of the mold means I9 to the section I1.

The mold means I9 at the forward cover section I3 is similar to the means i9 at the section I1 comprising a front mold member 50, sidemold members I and a rear mold member 52. The mold members 50, 5I and 52 are ofthe same shape or cross section as themembers'34, 35 and 36 Vand the same reference numerals are applied to their main portions 31, bases 38 and .flanges 39 and 461 The front mold member 50 of the cover section |8 may be the same as the rear member 34 ofthe section I1 and has end portions engaged over reduced tongues 53 of corner blocks 54. The blocks 54 may be the same as the blocks 4I, except that their longitudinal tongues 53 may ings in the forward flange `2| of the section I8 and are threaded into openings 55 in the blocks v54.

This, secures the blocks 54 Iand the mold member 50 to the section I8. 40 of the member 50 are engaged with or recessed in the tongue 53 to retain the member ln place and the surface of the main portion 31 of the moldmember lies flush with the correspond'- ing surfaces of the blocks 5,4. The shoulders 56 occurring at the inner ends of the longitudinal tongues 53 cooperate with the ends of the member 50 to lock the member against endwise movement.

The end mold members 5| correspond to the above described members 35 and are engaged on the transverse tongues 53 of the blocks 54 to t over the end anges 2| `of the section I8. The forward ends of the members 5| are straight to cooperate with the block shoulders 56 and the flanges 39 and 4D of the members engaged behind and are recessed in the tongues to lock the members against displacement. The rear ends of the members 5I may engage or may be immediately adjacent the rear'rim 20 of the section I8 and bases 38 of the members 5I t over the inner flange 2| of the section I8.

The rear mold member 52 of the section I8 corresponds to and may be identical with the forward mold member 36 of the section I1. The member 52 is arranged to have its base 38 engage the inner or upper side of the ange 2| which extends along the rear edge of thesection I8 and its fiange 38 bears against the rim 20 while its flange 4.8 bears against the under side of the section. The opposite ends of the member 52 are mitered or bevelled as at 51 to properly engage with the members 5I. The ends of the member 52 are formed to t against the members 5I to dependably retain the inner parts of the members 5|. The attaching means of the hinges 29 are employed to secure the mold member 52 to the section I8. The blocks or plates 3| for `anchoringA the forward screws 3U of the hinges 29 are arranged against the. inner or upper sides of the bases38 of themember 52. The plates'3l may be welded or otherwise fixed to the member 52.' The base 38 of the member 52 has openings 68 for passing the screws 36. When "the member 52 has been arranged in place between thememf` bers 5|, the screws 38 are passed through their openings in the hinges 29 and flanges 2| and the openings "t8 and are threaded into the blocks 3l.

This dependably fixes the mold member 52 tothe i section |13. The mold members 58, 5I and 52 and the blocks 54 may have their exposed surfaces plated or otherwise finished.

It is believed that theV features of the cover construction will be readily apparent from the fore going detailed description, The mold members of the means i8 are securely and dependably `attachedto the cover sections I 1 and I 8 .without re` sorting tothe use/of welding or attaching means that detract from the appearance of the struc- The iianges 39 and 4ture or that might injure the -frangible porcelain lini'sh of the cover parts: :The attaching members or screws 26, 35i and 33 already required in the cover structure are utilizedto anchor or secure the moldmembers to the cover sections lll and I8.,l These attaching parts or members are concealed or inconspicuous and are not exposed at the sides orexterior of the cover. There are noi exposedor visible attaching means .on the molding parts and the molding structures present smooth, continuous, unbroken surfaces. With the exceptionnoftheblocks 4l and 54"of the elements of the mold means i9 for the two cover sections H and i8 may beidentical` and, if desired, the blocks for vthe two mold assemblies may be the same.' This "promotes Aeconomy in the manufacture of the construction.

Having described only a typical Ipreferred form and application of my invention, I do-'n'ot wish to be! limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve tomyself any variations or modifications that may appear to those'skilled in the art or fall within ythe scope'of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

' l. A Vcover comprising two' cover sections varranged in edge to edge urelation and having edge anges,l separately formed mold members arranged at the under sides of the sections to en- 'gage' withsaid ilanges and extendingy alongthe lengths thereof, blocks engaged in the mold members, a hinge for connecting the sections for relativeswinging movement and having cheeks at the under sides of the sections, andA screws passed through openings in' the hinge cheeks, edge flanges and mold members and threaded'into the blocks to attach the hinge to the sections and to secure the mold membersto their respective sections.

2; In a cover for a cooking range, a pair of cover section arranged in edge to edge relation, depending marginal flanges on the sections, molding assemblies at the under sides of the sections engaged within the anges, the assemblies including end mold members arranged at the opposite ends of the sections, and mold members extending along the edges of the sections which are in adjacent relation and extending between and contacting the first named mold members to hold them in place, a hinge at the adjacent edges of the'sections, screw threaded parts attaching the hinge tothe anges at said adjacent edges of the sections and securing the last named mold members to their respective sections, and hinge means securing one of the sections to the range.

Y3. In a cover for a cooking range, a pair of cover sections arranged to have adjacent longitudinal edges in substantially parallel relation, depending rims extending along the edges of the sections at the under sides of the sections, mold assemblies engaged in the rims of the sections leach including first longitudinal mold members attached tothe sections and engaged in the rims `whichextend along the longitudinal edges of the sections opposite to said adjacent edges, end mold members engaged in the rims Aat the ends of the sections, second longitudinal mold members vengaged in the rims which extend along said adjacent longitudinal edges and engaged between the end members to retain the same, hinges at said adjacent edges of the sections adjacent the ends of the sections, and screw threaded elements attaching the hinges to said adjacent edge parts of the sections and securing said second longitudinal members to their respectve sections, and hinge means securing one of the sections to the range.

4. An articulated cover comprising two generally rectangular cover sections arranged to have adjacent longitudinal edges in side by side relation, depending marginal rims on under sides ofthe sections, inturned flanges on the rims, mold Vassembliesat the under sides of the sections each comprising a rst mold member engaged in the-rim andflange at the edge of its section opposite to: said adjacent longitudinal edges, corner blocks secured in the corners of the section at the ends of said iirst member and engaged in the -ends of said rst mold member to'retain the same, end mold members engaged in the rimsgand ilanges vat the ends of the section and having their ends engaged with the blocks to be retained thereby, and second longitudinal members engaged in the rim and flange which extend along said adjacent longitudinal edge ofthe section and extending between and contacting the ends-of the end members to retain the same in position, a hinge at said adjacent edges of the sections, and screw threaded elements'arranged through openings in the flanges at the adjacent edges of the sections and the hinges to secure the hinges to the sections and to secure the second longitudinal mold members to the sections. v

5. In a cover of the character described, a generally rectangular cover section of sheet material having corners where its endedges and longitudinal edges join, downturned rims on the mar.. gins of the section, inturned flanges on the rims presenting upper and lower sides, and a molding structure for the section comprising a mold member extending along one longitudinal edge of the section and engaging the upper side of its flange, corner blocks in the corners of the section atfthegends of said mold member and engaged with= said member to retain the same, end mold members extending along the end edges of the4 section to engage the upper sides of the flanges at said end edges, tongues on the blocks engaging in the end mold members to assist in retaining the end members, and a mold member extending along the other longitudinal edge of the section to engage the upper side of its ange; and extending between and contacting said end mold members to assist in retaining the same.

v 6.'An articulated cover comprising two generally rectangular cover sections arranged to have adjacent longitudinal edges in side by side relation, means hinging said edges together, depending marginal rims on the under sides the sections, inturned iianges on the rims, mold assemblies at the under sides of the sections each comprising a first longitudinal mold member engaged in the rim and ange at the edge of its respective section which is opposite said adjacent edges, corner blocks secured in the corners of the section at the ends of said first mold member and engaged in the ends of the said first mold member to retain the same, bumpers on the flange of said edge of the section, screws secur same in position, and means for securing said second longitudinal mold members to their respective sections.

7. A cover of the character described comprising a rectangular cover section of sheet material having a down-turned rim extending along its several edges, inturned flanges on the rim, a molding assembly for the under side of the section including corner mold blocks set in the rim and flanges at the corners of the section which occur at the ends of one edge of the section, the blocks having tongues, a mold member extending along said edge of the section to engage with the rim and flange thereof and retained by tongues on the blocks, end mold members engaged with the rim and flanges at the ends ci the section which join the rst named edge at said corners, said end mold members having ends engaged on tongues of the blocks to be retained thereby, a mold member at the edge of the section opposite said first named edge and engaged with the rim and ange thereof and extending between and contacting the other ends of the end mold members to retain the same, means securing the last named mold member to the ange at the last named edge of the section,and means securing the blocks to the cover section.

8. A cover of the character described corrprlsing a rectangular cover section of sheet material having a down-turned rim extending along its several edges, inturned anges on the rim, a molding assembly for the under side of the section including corner mold blocks set in the rim and flanges at the corners of the section which occur at the ends of one edge of the section, the blocks having tongues, a mold member extending along said edge of the section to engage with the rim and ange thereof and retained by tongues on the blocks, end mold members engaged with the rim and anges at the edges of the section which joint the first named edge at said corners, said end mold members having ends engaged on tongues of the blocks to be retained thereby, a mold member at the edge of the section opposite said first named edge and engaged With the rim and ange thereof and extending between and contacting the other ends of said end mold members to retain the same, means securing the last named mold member to the flange at the last named edge of the section, hinges at the first named edge of the section for mounting the section on a support, and screws attaching the hinges to the section and securing the corner blocks to the section.

' LOUIS J. SMALLEN. 

